Gender-Affirming Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation surgery is an effective way to change the size and shape of your breasts with the aid of silicone or saline implants or fat transfers. As a gender-affirming surgery, breast augmentation helps to achieve a chest that aligns with the patient’s gender identity, thereby enhancing self-esteem and quality of life.

As a fellowship-trained cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Sean Satey approaches all gender-affirming surgeries with a high level of skill, experience, sensitivity, and compassion. His Los Angeles and Lancaster offices provide an inclusive environment where patients receive personalized treatment and meticulous care. To explore your gender-affirming breast augmentation possibilities, schedule a consultation online or call us at (424) 500-3320.

Insurance Coverage

In many cases, gender-affirming breast augmentation can be covered by insurance. While regular breast augmentation is typically considered to be a purely cosmetic surgery, gender-affirming breast augmentation is recognized by many insurance companies to be medically necessary. For patients suffering from gender dysphoria, gender-affirming breast augmentation can offer transformative, life-changing results that improve one’s overall quality of life. Dr. Satey is incredibly honored to be able to offer patients this surgery with insurance coverage, given that their unique policy deems it necessary.

The insurance coverage process can seem daunting at first, but Dr. Satey and his team are here to make everything easier for you. They will help you with any documentation you may need, as well as walk you through the specific details of your insurance plan. Our goal is to help patients undergo this surgery in the most accessible way possible!

About Gender-Affirming Breast Augmentation

Gender-affirming surgery primarily helps patients address gender dysphoria, which is when an individual’s gender identity does not match the sex they were assigned at birth. ⁽¹⁾ The goal of gender-affirming breast augmentation is to sculpt a figure that more closely aligns with an individual’s gender identity. ⁽²⁾ Many who suffer from body dysphoria will struggle with mental, emotional, and physical health, so this type of surgery isn’t just gender affirming—it’s life-affirming!

Important Considerations

While feminizing hormone therapy can increase the amount of breast tissue and size of the breasts, it’s often insufficient to match a patient’s personal goals. There are differences in the size and shape of cisgender male and cisgender female bodies that will determine the right approach to this type of surgery. ⁽³⁾ For example, male bodies frequently have wider chests, larger pectoral muscles, and laterally positioned nipples. Dr. Satey’s highly personalized approach to your breast augmentation will allow him to choose the right surgical techniques to ensure the most satisfactory results for your unique needs.

Benefits

The benefits of body-affirming breast augmentation cannot be overstated. After healing from surgery, patients are able to look in the mirror and see a figure that aligns with their identity. Relieved of this aspect of gender dysphoria, self-esteem improves, feminine tops fit better, and patients can live with newfound confidence.

Candidates

Candidates for gender affirming breast augmentation include individuals who wish to match their physical appearance to their gender identity. These patients should be in good health and have realistic expectations about the treatment. Individuals should also be non-smokers or prepared to abstain from nicotine use.

Personal Consultation

During your personal consultation, Dr. Satey will evaluate your anatomy, explore your medical history, have an in-depth discussion about your goals, and identify the best treatment options to help you achieve stunning results. Dr. Satey will also explain the surgery and share insights about the healing process.

At this meeting, you will have the opportunity to explore implant materials, shapes, and sizes to find a pair that delivers your ideal chest. Dr. Satey will also explain surgical techniques, including implant placement and incision options, to plan a treatment that will deliver your ideal results.

Dr. Satey and his team are committed to supporting you every step of the way through your gender-affirming journey, and we are available to answer any and all questions that may arise. With office locations in Lancaster and Los Angeles, we are centrally located near neighborhoods and landmarks such as:

Preparation

After finalizing your surgical plan, Dr. Satey and his team will provide you with detailed pre-surgery instructions. These will include things like abstaining from nicotine and alcohol use, avoiding blood-thinning medications or supplements, planning time off from work and strenuous activities for recovery, organizing aftercare helpers and supplies, and any other preparations that may be specific to your case. Dr. Satey also recommends filling all medication prescriptions for post-surgery care ahead of time.

Procedure

At the start of your surgery, you will be placed under general anesthesia. Dr. Satey will place your implants either under or over the pectoral muscle through incisions along the breast crease or around the areola.

If fat transfer is part of your breast augmentation, Dr. Satey first harvests fat from your own body using VASER-assisted liposuction, a technique that increases the viability of the fat cells and the fat retention rate. As one of one of 6 surgical educators for VASER, Dr. Satey is distinctly qualified to implement this technique on its own for a breast size increase or in conjunction with implants.

Recovery

Breast augmentation is typically an outpatient surgery, which means you will be able to return home the same day as your surgery. Dr. Satey recommends having someone stay with you for the first 24-48 hours post-surgery. When you sleep or rest, you will need to lie on your back and elevate your head and shoulders. It is important to get out of bed early and often (with assistance) after surgery, as gentle movement will increase blood flow and help prevent clots.

You should be able to shower starting 48 hours after surgery, but refrain from fully submerging yourself in water for two weeks.

At regular follow-up appointments with Dr. Satey, he will evaluate your healing progress, examine your incisions, and record your progress.

Results

As swelling and bruising diminish over time and your implants settle into place, you will start to see how your new enhancements create a more feminine profile and align with your gender identity, as well as boost self-confidence and life outlook. Dr. Satey’s expert approach ensures that the final results of your surgery are beautiful and long-lasting.

Other Gender-Affirming Surgeries

Dr. Satey’s practice offers several other gender-affirming surgeries that patients can undergo in addition to breast augmentation. These include:

Cost of Gender-Affirming Breast Augmentation in Los Angeles and Lancaster, CA

The total cost of your gender-affirming breast augmentation will depend on a few factors, including insurance coverage, the implants you select, the surgical techniques Dr. Satey employs, whether you include any other surgeries, and more. During your consultation, Dr. Satey will develop a concise treatment plan and deliver a personalized estimate of your total treatment costs, as well as provide any financing options. Dr. Satey and his team will help you navigate the insurance coverage process as well to make your surgery more accessible.

Schedule your consultation today to explore your breast augmentation possibilities. If you have any questions or prefer to schedule over the phone, please call our Los Angeles or Lancaster offices at (424) 500-3320.

FAQ

References

1. Coleman, E., Radix, A. E., Bouman, W. P., Brown, G. R., de Vries, A. L. C., Deutsch, M. B., … Arcelus, J. (2022). Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People, Version 8. International Journal of Transgender Health, 23(sup1), S1–S259. https://doi.org/10.1080/26895269.2022.2100644
2. Miller TJ, Wilson SC, Massie JP, Morrison SD, Satterwhite T. Breast augmentation in male-to-female transgender patients: Technical considerations and outcomes. JPRAS Open. 2019 Apr 17;21:63-74. doi: 10.1016/j.jpra.2019.03.003. Erratum in: JPRAS Open. 2021 Sep 25;30:178-179. doi: 10.1016/j.jpra.2021.09.009. PMID: 32158888; PMCID: PMC7061686. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7061686/
3. Bekeny JC, Zolper EG, Fan KL, Del Corral G. Breast augmentation for transfeminine patients: methods, complications, and outcomes. Gland Surg 2020;9(3):788-796. doi: 10.21037/gs.2020.03.18 https://gs.amegroups.org/article/view/38543/html